Cardiovascular disease is the largest cause of global mortality. This is frequently due to thrombosis mediated by platelets. Current assays to initiate therapy in either primary or secondary prevention of thrombosis have significant limitations. Moreover assays of platelet function as a risk marker for cardiovascular events are not routine. The platelet biology research program involves the development of novel diagnostic microfluidic & adhesion assay devices for assessment of platelet function in cardiovascular disease and bleeding disorders under conditions found in the vascular system.

This research program involves the development of diagnostic microfluidic assay devices for assessment of platelet function in cardiovascular disease and bleeding disorders under conditions found in the vascular system. Firstly we seek to develop a novel microfluidic device that assays platelet function. The second part of this program is the characterisation of the function of individual platelets.

Key programme elements:

• Development of diagnostic microfluidic assay devices for assessment of platelet function in normal and diseased states.
• Development of novel single platelet adhesion devices for characterisation of platelet activation status and reactivity (sub-populations) in patient samples.
• Application of these assay devices for the characterisation and assessment of platelet function and reactivity in cardiovascular disease and bleeding disorders

NEWS - January 2010

Single-Step Separation of Platelets from Whole Blood Coupled with Digital Quantification by Interfacial Platelet Cytometry (iPC) by L. Basabe-Desmonts, S. Ramstrom, G. Meade, S. O'Neill, A. Riaz, L. P. Lee, A. J. Ricco and D. Kenny will feature on the next cover of Langmuir (American Chemical Society).

In the meantime, the article is available to view online - http://pubs.acs.org/articlesonrequest/AOR-NihbIQ8GgjwFI3y8c7n6

If you access this link from DCU or another institution with a subscription to ACS Publications, enter the code 10.1021/la9039682 into the DOI search tab in the top right corner to locate the article.

If you do not have a subscription, please register with ACS and log in to view the article. 50 free e-prints of the article are available.

• Ramstrom S., O'Neill S., Kenny D., (Accepted) Annexin V binding to platelets is agonist, time, and temperature dependant, Platelets

• Basabe-Desmonts, L., Ramstrom, S., Meade, G., O'Neill, S., Riaz, A., Lee, L., Ricco, A. & Kenny, D (Accepted) Single-Step Separation of Platelets from Whole Blood Coupled with Digital Quantification by Interfacial Platelet Cytometry (iPC). Langmuir.

• Kijanka, G., Kay, E.W., Murray, F., Cummins, R., MacCraith, B., Murphy, D,. Prehn, J.H.M. & Kenny, D. (2010) Human IgG antibody profiles differentiate between symptomatic patients with and without colorectal cancer. Gut, 59, 69–78. (January)

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY:

• Intellectual Property information is available here.

Dermot Kenny graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1982. He completed his training in Internal Medicine in Dublin and moved to the USA in 1987 where he completed his cardiology fellowship and started his research career in coronary physiology and thrombosis. The NIH, American Heart Association, Wellcome Trust and more recently the Health Research Board in Ireland have funded his research.

In 1998 he returned to Dublin to head up the first academic clinical research centre in Ireland. Professor Kenny maintains an active research role as an Investigator in the Blood Research Institute of the Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin He is adjunct Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine in the Medical College of Wisconsin and Adjunct Professor in the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute in Dublin City University.

His primary research area is in understanding the mechanisms of thrombosis to advance clinical diagnostics. His contributions to translational research have recently been recognised in a number of awards by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. His personal interests includes scuba diving, both ice diving and in the more temperate waters of Ireland.

http://www.clinicaltrials-ireland.com
http://www.bernardsoulier.org